Published 2025-05-13
Abstract
Although, poverty is worldwide phenomenon, it has been observed that
Nigeria is one of the poorest countries in the world in rooter of rural
poverty, despite its abundant natural resources. The rural poverty level
in Nigeria has reached an alarming rate stage where 70% of its rural
population lives below the poverty line. However, available statistics
shows that poverty in poor countries is absolute and more pronounced
in rural areas. Under the present democratic dispensation, the rural
folks that constitutes significant segment of the Nigerian society live in
abject poverty and are neglected in terms of socio-economic and
political well being. The paper provides a conceptual overview of
poverty within the context of ruralism and assesses the performance of
poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria in the Fourth Republic. It
also argues that democracy cannot thrive in an impoverished society
where people live below one dollar ($1) per day, and where stresses of
disease, famine and climatic shock are pervasive. Finally, the paper
suggests the way forward towards poverty reduction in rural Nigeria.